

Daniel Johnston comes to Austin after a stint with a carnival crew and hands out lo-fi tapes of his recordings decorated with his artwork
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Becomes a highly followed and highly anticipated musical act attracting a cult following.
Songs of love and soul-searching mirrored his life and struggle with mental illness.
Was featured on MTV’s “Cutting Edge” and at the 1992 Music Awards when Kurt Cobain was wearing Johnston’s artwork and often mentioned him in interviews gaining him national exposure.
In 1993 The Sound Exchange record store commissions Johnston to create a mural of “Jeremiah the Innocent” (Hi How Are you?) on the side of the store from his 1983 album cover. Since then the mural has stood as an iconic Austin figure in local culture and music.
SXSW music conference is formed
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In July 1986, the organizers of the New York City music festival New Music Seminar contacted Roland Swenson, a staffer at the Austin Chronicle, about organizing an extension of that festival into Austin, but the plans did not follow through.
Swenson decided to instead co-organize a local music festival, with the help of editor and co-founder of the Austin Chronicle, Louis Black, publisher/co-founder Nick Barbaro, and Louis Meyers, a booking agent and musician.
Emo’s opens
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Starts as a local punk club originally located in the Red River music district, and helped form Austin’s live music scene.
Now an Austin iconic venue hosting bands of many genres including indie, alternative, rock and hip hop.
The original location closed in 2012 and reopened its new location at 2015 E. Riverside hosting various local and national artists.
Willie Nelson honored in the unveiling of his bronze statue, “red-headed stranger” at 4:20 pm on April 20, 2012
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A gift from the city of Austin for Willie’s contribution to Texas music and for helping develop Austin as a Texas music epicenter.
Located in front of ACL Live at the Moody Theater on Willie Nelson Blvd.